The Berrgran family, mom Kristie, Roseanna, Jim and Doug, all of Lakeland and the Tanners - Kevin and Melissa, also from Lakeland, along with boys Colby, Ian and Ryan found one of the three perfect trees they were looking for Saturday at Lake Wales Ridge State Forest's annual Christmas tree sale.

The Berrgran family, mom Kristie, Roseanna, Jim and Doug, all of Lakeland and the Tanners - Kevin and Melissa, also from Lakeland, along with boys Colby, Ian and Ryan found one of the three perfect trees they were looking for Saturday at Lake Wales Ridge State Forest's annual Christmas tree sale.

PHOTO BY AL PALMER

Three-year-old Jiliana Stabler of Lakeland checks the needles on a sand pine to see if it will hold all the tinsel and lights at Saturday's Christmas tree sale at the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest.

PHOTO BY AL PALMER

Forestry Administrative Assistant Jeane Ferrara counts the proceeds from Saturday's Christmas tree sale at the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. Dozens of trees were sold at $10 each and the sale continues this week and again starting Dec. 16.

PHOTO BY AL PALMER

Bartow residents John and Justin Prince carefully tie down the Christmas trees they cut at Christmas tree sale in 2013 at the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest east of Lake Wales.

By CATHY PALMER

Correspondent

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Over the river and through the woods they came — not heading for Grandma’s house, but the Arbuckle Tract of the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. By the car and truckload they came to hike into the woods, hatchet or saw in hand to get their prize — a fresh pine Christmas tree.

For the fourth year, the state forest tract was open to one and all to cut their own sand pine tree for the minimal cost of $10 per tree.

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